DVD/CD Drive has disappeared

Okay please bare with me because I know next to nothing about computers and this will probably be like reading a book, but I know you need as much information as possible to be able to help and I will list everything as it occured.

1, I bought my son a secondhand Gericom Masterpiece 2446XL for christmas.

2, When he tried to play a DVD there was a message saying it needed a decoder installed, When I looked on the windows website the cost for this decoder was 10 pounds upwards and I thought it possible to find one for free somewhere so I set about that.

3, I at first downloaded realplayer as I thought that may not need a decoder but that did not work.

4, After going through this forum I saw that windows media player 9(which was installed) would not play DVDs anyway, so I then downloaded and installed windows media player 10
.
5, I could still not play the DVD and when I inserted a CD I could not hear any sound, after going through yet more internet pages I went into the tools section in the actual media player and from there I was able to get the sound.

6, I downloaded two codec packs(not to sure what these are, but they purported to be what I needed) and these did not work so I then deleted these.

7, I was then listening to the CD wwhile reading more pages on how to try and get the DVD to play, all of a sudden the sound just stopped and when I looked at media player, there were red exclamation marks next to the song titles. I came out of media player and reinserted the disk but nothing happened. When I clicked onto now playing it said that I needed to insert a disk!.

8, After about an hour I finally realised that the disk was not being recognised and then tried to work out why? I have read several pages on how to fix the problem but still to no avail, the steps I have taken are as follows-----

I downloaded a tool from microsoft that scans your computer for any faults with your DVD/CD drive, this only picked up on the Huwaei mass storage device,, which is the dongle for my mobile broadband(it can hold a memory chip) but it does not pick up the DVD/CD drive.

I then went into the device management and I unistalled the Secondary IDE channel and restarted my computer so it was then installed again, but this did not work. I then did the same with the Primary IDE channel and that did not work. On all of the pages I have read there is not other channels but under my IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers-I also have another which is as follows,, Intel(R) 82801BA Ultra ATA storage controller-244B. I unistalled this also but this did not work,in desperation I unistalled them all together and this did not work either.

I then went into the REG editor and deleted the upper and then the lower filters and rebooted, but this has still not solved the problem.

When I go into the device manager and then click on DVD/CD drive it only shows the Huawei mass storage device.
If that has anything to do with it, im not sure. But I had already installed my dongle and the DVD/CD drive was working okay then.

I know the drive is still working because it opens and closes and when you shut the drive it starts to spin and you can hear it starting to work. Then all of a sudden it just stops.

If your still awake at this point then I would be very greatful if anybody can give me any ideas as to how I can get this drive to come back.
Thank you very much for taking the time toread this, it is very much appreciated

 

Taylorboy, please post your System details as this will help establish what Hardware is installed.Go into User CP and follow the edits.
It sounds like a driver problem. Neil.

 

Hi Pete,

Its actually a laptop, even if it was failing to read disks would the computer still not recognise it as existing though???

 

Hi TAYLORBOY, I'm still curious about who the manufacturer is for the laptop? Googling doesn't recognize the info you've given so far. Does it have removable DVD unit? or is it fixed in case. Neil.

 

Hi Neil,
I have been looking for the system information that you asked for and im not to sure what you mean by this as I do not know a lot about computers, the following is from the actual ebay advertisement and it might be what you meant?

•Intel Pentium 4 processor
•512MB RAM
•40GB Hard Drive (2 x 20GB Hard drives)
•DVD/CD-RW combo
•2.40 Gigahertz , 512 KB L 2 Cache, 533 MHz Front Side Bus
•ATI Mobility® Radeon® 9000 Graphics card with 64 MB DDR RAM

If this is not wwhat you meant could you let me know where to find the system information, Thanks.

 

Hi Pete,

To be honest I dont have a clue what the BIOS is, could you tell me how I get into it and I will let you know.

Thanks

 

Hi, taylorboy,

Here is a web site for accessing the BIOS "Basic Input/Output System "

BIOS Access

If you are unsure of any of the settings in the BIOS - do not change them. I would suggest writing them down
and posting them


Or take the laptop to a reliable computer repair shop and they can look at the BIOS and tell you if something is set wrong or not set at all.

 

Pete, thanks for the link. I've never heard the brand name before and certainly not marketed here in NZ. I'll leave you guys to sort TAYLORBOY out as I would have to use Babelfish to interpret for me. Neil.

TAYLORBOY, I meant for you to enter your comp details in the User Profile My System section. Leave you with Pete and I'm gone. Neil.

 

Hi Pete,
I hope that the following is what you need to know if you need to know anything else then please let me know

PhoenixBIOS setup utility​

Primary master [IC25NO40ATCS04-(pm)]
Secondary master [NONE]

Summary screen: [DISABLED]

Memory cache [ENABLED]
System memory 640KB
Extended memory 522752KB
Video memory 64MB

Thanks for your continued help Pete

 

Hi, TAYLORBOY

I'm siding with Pete on this, your BIOS isn't seeing the drive so there is a fault with the drive itself or the interface. Has your laptop recieved a knock lately?

By the way read this link to complete your system details it could save a lot of time when resolving further issues.

 

---PC MAKE AND MODEL---

Property Value
Manufacturer Gericom
Product Name G730
Version Revision A0
Serial Number 0123456789
Machine Type AT/AT COMPATIBLE
DMI System UUID 00000000-00000000-00000000-00000730

Disk Space Disk C: 10941 MB Available, 20003 MB Total, 10941 MB Free
Disk D: 17 GB Available, 17 GB Total, 17 GB Free
Disk E: 0 MB Available, 22 MB Total, 0 MB Free

Physical Memory 511 MB Total, 183 MB Free
Memory Load 64%

Virtual Memory 1248 MB Total, 690 MB Free

PageFile Name \??\C:\pagefile.sys
PageFile Size 768 MB
In use 239 MB
Max used 259 MB
Registry Size 6 MB (current), 56 MB (maximum)

Profile GUID {66a4c7c0-2264-11da-a2e6-806d6172696f}

The system clock interval 10 ms

---MOTHERBOARD---

Property Value
Manufacturer ECS Elitegroup
Model G730
Version None

---PROCESSOR---

Property Value
Number of CPU(s) One Physical Processor / One Core / One Logical Processor / 32 bits
CPU Full Name Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz
CPU Name Intel Pentium 4
CPU Code Name Northwood
Platform Name Socket 478 mPGA
Revision C1
Technology 0.13 µm
Instructions MMX, SSE, SSE2
Original Clock 2400 MHz
Original System Clock 100 MHz
Original Multiplier 24.0
CPU Clock 2392 MHz
System Clock 99.7 MHz
FSB 398.7 MHz
Core 0 Speed 2392.1 MHz
Core 0 Multiplier 24.0
L1 Data Cache 8 KBytes
L1 Trace Cache 12 Kuops
L2 Cache 512 KBytes

North Bridge Intel i845 Revision 04
South Bridge Intel 82801BA (ICH2) Revision 04

CPU Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz
Cpu Socket Socket 478 mPGA

System Slots 3 PCI

Memory Summary
Maximum Capacity 512 MBytes
Memory Slots 3
Error Correction None

Warning! Accuracy of DMI data cannot be guaranteed


---MEMORY---

Property Value
GAUSS (Gericom G730)
Memory Summary
Maximum Capacity 512 MBytes
Memory Slots 3
Error Correction None
DRAM Frequency 132.9 MHz
Memory Timings 3-3-3-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
Device Locator J6J1
Bank Locator DIMM 0
Capacity 256 MBytes
Memory Type Synchronous SDRAM
Data Width 64 bits
Total Width 64 bits
Form Factor DIMM
Device Locator J6J2
Bank Locator DIMM 1
Capacity 256 MBytes
Memory Type Synchronous SDRAM
Data Width 64 bits
Total Width 64 bits
Form Factor DIMM

---HARD DRIVE #1---

Property Value
GAUSS (Gericom G730)
CD-ROM 0
Manufacturer HUAWEI
Model IC25N040ATCS04-0
Size 40.0 GB
Firmware Version CA4OA71A
Serial Number CSH409DLCV1Z2B
Interface Parallel ATA
Standard ATA/ATAPI-5 | ATA/ATAPI-5 T13 1321D version 3
Transfer Mode (Current / Max) Ultra DMA-100 / Ultra DMA-100
Features S.M.A.R.T., APM
Temperature 45 C (113 F)
Drive Letter(s) E:
Controller Buffer Size on Drive 1768 KB
Removable Yes
Capabilities
CD Reader CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW
CD Writer No
DVD Reader No
DVD Writer No
SMART Support Yes
Attribute Name Attribute Value Worst Value Threshold Value Raw Data
Raw Read Error Rate (01) 100 100 062 000000000000
Throughput Performance (02) 100 100 040 000000000000
Spin Up Time (03) 128 128 033 001000000001
Start/Stop Count (04) 097 097 000 00000000161B
Reallocated Sector Count (05) 100 100 005 000000000000
Seek Error Rate (07) 100 100 067 000000000000
Seek Time Performance (08) 100 100 040 000000000000
Power On Hours Count (09) 083 083 000 000000001D73
Spin Retry Count (0A) 100 100 060 000000000000
Power Cycle Count (0C) 097 097 000 0000000015D0
G-sense error rate (BF) 099 099 000 000000010001
Power-off retract count (C0) 100 100 000 00000000003A
Load/unload cycle count (C1) 092 092 000 000000013AE5
HDA Temperature (C2) 122 122 000 0037000D002D
Reallocation event count (C4) 100 100 000 000000000004
Current pending sector count (C5) 100 100 000 000000000000
Off-line uncorrectable sector count (C6) 100 100 000 000000000000
Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate (C7) 200 200 000 000000000000


if you need anything else just let me know, thanks

 

Hi Pete,

Does that mean I should just discard the driver and purchase a new one?

Many thanks,
Graham

 

Hi Pete,
On the 3dongle I use it has a slot so that you can insert a small memory card that can hold upto 4gb of data(pictures etc..).
I dont know if that is why it is showing up in the DVD/CD drive.



I tried uninstalling the dongle and that does not work. The drive is still not showing up in the BIOS.
The only thing different is that in device manager, there is now nothing showing up under CD DRIVE,, in fact there is not even a sub heading for CD DRIVE anymore.
The other thing that has changed in device management is that under the heading memory stick controllers, there is now a yellow exclamation mark over the- sony memory stick controller (PCI)- this was not there before, if that has anything to do with it I would not have a clue.
The drive is still powwering up and spinning, then all of a sudden it just stops again.

After trying all of your advice I thought I would try system restore as that is usually my amateur answer to everything, when trying to restore to the earliest time available, which is 20/12/2009, I get the following message appear--

Changes made to drive(s) F: after this point cannot be reversed because
the drive was either excluded from system restore monitoring, or was turned of or removed.

Do you think this has anything to do with the problem.

Thanks for your continued help

 

Hi Pete,
SOrry to be a pain but even though I deleted the dongle I reinstalled it so as my son could at least go on the internet, the yellow sign appeared only after I reinstalled, on checking it further it now says-code 10, could not start-.

Also when I check system restore it is only monitoring drives C and D.

This may have absolutely nothing to do with the DVD drive but it just seems strange.

Thanks for your continued help, I should think you are probably more fed up with this than I am lol.

 

simply try this

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060